Air pressure imbalance on the wingtips generates rotating airflows behind the aircraft, known as aircraft wake vortices, leading to variations in the frequency of reflected waves. The signal can be detected using Doppler lidar, but it is intrinsically weak in nature and requires new detection technologies. Hence, this paper studies the distribution and detection feasibility of aircraft wake vortices during the cruising phase. An Airbus A330 and two types of fighter jets are used as examples. The decay pattern and spatial distribution characteristics of wake vortices are also calculated. Furthermore, the wake vortex detection model discussed in this paper is based on lidar and presents the relationship between aircraft wake vortex characteristics and radar echo signals. Therefore, the identification and judgment of wake vortices are achievable. The findings of this paper provide a method and basis for the detection and identification of flight characteristics of aircraft during the cruising phase.